Building a Widened BJ Beam

Chirco · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:53 pm Post subject:

They left here today.
Thanks

dustymojave · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:23 am Post subject:

Beveling is for thicker material. It's not appropriate for 1/8" - 3mm thick wall tube such as used for beams. A proper bead on this tubing should penetrate fully. A 6" wider beam should always get support form frame rails form the cage. The leverage on the tubes is substantial. And those welds in the center still see substantial forces on them as the stock frame head mount brackets serve as fulcrums when a load is applied to the outer ends of the tubes. Even with cage-supports to the beam just inboard of the shock towers, the center of the tubes can see substantial loads when a wheel hits a bump or other object.
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Richard
A.R.T.S. Tech Inspection MORE/MDR
Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails built in the Mojave Desert
SoCalBajas Member

dustymojave · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:05 am Post subject:

neanders · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:22 am Post subject:

I am going to put beam braces on it when I install it, I'm worried about the increased leverage on those beam tubes. But I've only got about $50 into this beam, not counting my time, so if it brakes, I'm not out much. And what about clearanced ball joints? What are the advantages/disadvantages of those?
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It's mine now and I want a BAJA!!!

dustymojave · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:47 pm Post subject:

Slightly more travel, weaker ball joints.

They are already the weak link in the Ball Joint front end. For offroad use, do you want to go even weaker? Even in low-speed trail crawling, you're gonna stress the ball joints, especially if you're using the greater travel. I've not been convinced they are worth it.
_________________
Richard
A.R.T.S. Tech Inspection MORE/MDR
Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails built in the Mojave Desert
SoCalBajas Member

neanders · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:07 pm Post subject:

I'll take your word for it, you have far more experience with these things than I! I think if I destroy this one, the next step will be a-arm.
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It's mine now and I want a BAJA!!!

shred625 · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:45 pm Post subject:

We (9 car guys) get about 6 inches of travel out of a BJ beam. They are cut and turned with aftermarket stops and ball joints.

for the shock towers we have a tube that runs between the two shock towers.
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dustymojave · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject:

tundrawolf · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:03 pm Post subject:

I apologize, it looked like a flush fit. Good job on this!

neanders · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject:

shred625 · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject:

runslikeapenguin · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:57 pm Post subject:

some friends of mine who race class 9 cheaped out and bought some Empi clearanced ball joints and they didn't last 1 lap before failing massively. they had previously been able to finish a race on the stock empis when they were in a pinch, but the clearenced ones are pure garbage.
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neanders · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject:

I just ordered a set of Lemfoerders off www.bmaparts.com. $16.95 each, only a couple bucks more than the cheap ones. I'll let you all know how that turns out.

Neil
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It's mine now and I want a BAJA!!!

earthquake · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:52 pm Post subject:

Neanders
Are you going to put a gusset on the steering arms? I also welded the shock tower all the way around.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I also put a gusset on the shock tower even though I have been told it does not help by some.

Earthquake
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74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
65 pan [I haven't decided what to do with it]
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]

Some where in Kenya, A village is missing its Idiot!

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neanders · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject:

My spindles are Tweeds, I think the steering arm is pretty beefy. I did weld the seams, and I am considering the best way to reinforce the shock tower. Is that square tubing you used? What size? I have some of 1x2 inch square tubing that I could use. I see that you have hook stops, too. How did you get that all lined up?

thx, Neil
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It's mine now and I want a BAJA!!!

earthquake · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject:

Neanders
My shock tower gussets are made from 1x3x.125 rec tubing, I used a peice of 1/2" all thread that I welded a peice of 1/2" ID tube on one end that went over the lower shock mount and two 1/2" nut ans washer through the upper mount, then I adjusted the nut so I was about 3/8" from max droop on the ball joints and the all thread held the lower arm in place so I could tack weld the hook in place. I did not install upper hooks, I dont like how bad that they bottom out.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

This tool also help install the lower arm when you cut and turn the beam

Earthquake
_________________
74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
65 pan [I haven't decided what to do with it]
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]

Some where in Kenya, A village is missing its Idiot!

"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, there would be a shortage of sand in 5 years"

4play · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject:

I to would like to widen a beam, But why do you need to transfer the center line up 1 9/16? Is it just because you wont the adjusters up.
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Yes I am a redneck
74 baja water cooled
79 viviera

neanders · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:57 pm Post subject:

Because that's what the directions say, wtf do I know?? Just kidding!!

It's because of the way the center anchors are made. With the adjuster, the set screw is 180* out from where it is on the beam the beam, and the long set screw is 90* off of that (between the two). So, you need to find that point between the two that's going to be neutral.

Or something like that...
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It's mine now and I want a BAJA!!!

4play · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:08 pm Post subject:

Whitch bushings did you order?
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Yes I am a redneck
74 baja water cooled
79 viviera

neanders · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject:

I got Bugpack red urethane bushings. And, since this was a German beam, they actually seem to fit!
_________________
It's mine now and I want a BAJA!!!

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Building a Widened BJ Beam
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